Katherine A. Porras
she/her Finance and Investment Officer
Katherine joined the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation in 2024 and has been instrumental in revamping the investment practice and financial systems. She is a champion for advocating that mission-based philanthropic institutions use their capital to align with their values in support of underserved communities.
She was previously an investment officer at Meyer Memorial Trust, where she supported the management of $1 billion in assets. Prior to her role in philanthropy, Katherine worked at Nike Inc. and Legal Aid of Hawaii, and she was an Afro Diasporic dance practitioner and researcher.
Katherine is a fervent lover of the arts and believer of its power to transform societies. She is deeply committed to service and advancing social justice values and actions. Katherine has two master’s degrees — one in dance and performance from University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and one in business administration with a focus on finance from Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management — as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology, dance and consumer family sciences. She is a pattern finder, strategic thinker and rhythmically blessed individual.
When not at work, Katherine volunteers her support to investment committees of progressive organizations such as the Chinatown Community Development Center, the Northwest Health Foundation, Seeding Justice and Hispanics in Philanthropy. In addition to volunteering, she enjoys traveling, eating and spending time with her hero, her dad.